UFL kicker Jake Bates should have no problem getting signed by an NFL team | He has ice in his veins
Jake Bates the United Football League kicker for Michigan Panthers is a very solid kicker who I feel will have an easy time finding a new home.
Yesterday, the kicker with ice in his veins hit his second game winner on the year. This was not his most impressive game winner though. He hit a 64-yarder to beat St. Louis Battlehawks in week 1.
The 25-year-old was first a soccer player at Central Arkansas for two seasons before transferring to Texas State. He joined the Bobcats’ football team as a kickoff specialist before moving on again to Arkansas two years later. He was First-Team All-SEC in 2022 as a kickoff specialist for the Razorbacks. Lots of kicking, but no field goal attempts.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Houston Texans last season, but failed to make the roster. So, he headed to the UFL, and it was a great decision. Jake Bates finished 5-for-5 on field goals yesterday, including a 42-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired. On the season, Bates is now 12-of-14 on the season.
Bates’ 60-yard field goal to close out the first half is his third 60-plus yard field goal this season and he is 3-for-4 when kicking from 60 yards plus.
I would expect an NFL team to rush to sign Bates after the UFL season.
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